Event Part of Statewide Presentations Designed to Help Illinois Businesses Explore Foreign Trade Opportunities

CHICAGO – In an effort to increase international trade throughout Northwest Illinois, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s Office of Trade and Investment (OTI) hosted a “Going Global” roundtable presentation today at the De Soto House Hotel in Galena to discuss opportunities to identify new markets and increase global exports.  The event is part of a series of statewide presentations, which have reached almost 500 participants throughout Illinois, including business owners, public officials, economic development leaders and educational partners.  The presentation comes as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create jobs and build the economy.

“Make no mistake, when it comes to foreign markets seeking quality products, Illinois businesses are in high demand.  Our unprecedented growth in exports over the last several years is due in no small part to the way we are connecting the strategic strengths and hardworking people to the needs of the global community.  We are inviting people and companies across the region to take advantage of the many foreign trade opportunities available, which will help businesses expand and create more jobs,” said Gov. Blagojevich. 

The event included presentations from Kathleen Houlihan, Deputy Managing Director of the Office of Trade and Investment at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), who highlighted the programs and services available to help companies in Jo Daviess, Carroll and surrounding counties export and answered questions about developing business overseas.  OTI representatives also discussed ways in which to utilize the newly designated Jo-Carroll Foreign Trade Zone at the former Savanna Depot.  So far this year, OTI has delivered nine international trade presentations to communities around the state, including in Litchfield, Bourbonnais, LaSalle, Peoria, Morton Grove, Rockford, Olney and Carterville. 

Earlier this month, Gov. Blagojevich announced that Illinois exports continue to show significant growth, with more than $20.5 billion in exports reported for the first half of 2006, an almost 17 percent increase from the first half of 2005.  Last year Illinois exports were up nearly 19 percent from the previous year, which was the greatest one-year increase in more than ten years and the third consecutive year of growth.  Top countries for Illinois’ exports are Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.  Top sectors include machinery, chemicals, computer/electronic products, transportation equipment, electrical equipment and food and kindred products.  This data comes from WISER, the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, who compiles its information from the US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division. 
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OTI offers a variety of export development assistance programs to help Illinois companies identify new markets and locate distribution channels for their products and services abroad, including trade missions to targeted foreign markets.  Trade missions provide small and medium sized companies in Illinois with an avenue to export their products and services by directly engaging foreign buyers, agents, distributors and/or joint-venture partners and providing additional in-country support.  Under Gov. Blagojevich, OTI has led 36 foreign trade missions, with an additional 19 planned for the rest of the year and into 2007.  This total is more than any previous administration.  These missions have hosted more than 190 participants and have included trips, often multiple times, to countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain and South Africa. 

Through the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN) and OTI’s nine international offices, small and medium-sized businesses can also receive counseling and technical assistance in exporting their goods and services.  The Illinois Trade Centers (ITC) and NAFTA Opportunity Centers (NOC) offer expertise and assistance with all facets of exporting with specialists who work one-on-one with new-to-export firms.  There are six ITC’s and two NOC’s statewide.  Through all of these efforts, 11,350 client companies have been served since 2003, which have reported an estimated $750.5 million in export sales since receiving this assistance.  

OTI is also working to attract essential Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Illinois, through a host of promotional activities, including FDI seminars and reverse trade missions.  There have been 40 FDI seminars in the past year alone, which have included China, India, Israel and Japan.  Illinois currently ranks fourth in the nation in foreign direct investment, according to the Organization for International Investment.  Through strategic promotional seminars overseas and domestically, OTI is continuing to establish foreign investment in Illinois and helping to create more Illinois jobs. 

“Gov. Blagojevich and I understand the need to open new markets for Illinois businesses, which allow them to cultivate important partnerships all over the world.  We are encouraged by the tremendous success Illinois is having on the global stage and are committed to continue opening new doors and identifying new opportunities for companies in Northwest Illinois to expand,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin said. 

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.